Meltdown Games at Appalachian Ski Mtn. in Blowing Rock Set for Saturday, March 25

Published Tuesday, March 21, 2017 at 1:02 pm

“Some make it and some don’t.” This fella couldn’t quite make it across the 80-foot-long pond for Appalachian Ski Mtn.’s Pond Skim event at a previous Meltdown Games.

By Jesse Wood

Appalachian Ski Mtn. is capping the 2016-17 winter season with the annual Meltdown Games on Saturday, March 25. With events like the signature Pond Skim and Chinese Down Hill, the games are as much for spectators as they are for participants.

Usually held over a two-day weekend, the Meltdown Games will only be held on Saturday because of thunderstorms in the forecast on Sunday, according to Appalachian Ski Mtn. spokesman Drew Stanley.

Here’s the schedule of the Meltdown Games next Saturday, March 25:

11 a.m. – High Ollie Contest

12:30 p.m. – Ski & Snowboard Big Air

2:30 p.m. – Pond Skim & Costume Contest

4 p.m. – Trash Bag Downhill Race

4:30 p.m. – Chinese Downhill

“It’s always a fun way to wrap up a great season,” Stanley said.

Speaking of the Pond Skim, Stanley added, “We always build a pretty long, 80-foot pond of water for skiers and snowboarders to maintain enough speed to get across or get soaked with some cold water. Either way, it’s exciting to watch. Some make it and some don’t.”

A costume contest is also held. The High Ollie Contest is similar to a reverse limbo, primarily for snowboarders. Stanley also mentioned that the Blowing Rock resort has plenty of snow for skiers and snowboarders participating in the Big Air event.

“Coverage is great. We are actually planning to make snow tomorrow (Wednesday) night … to give our guests the best snow we possibly can,” Stanley said. “We are going to fire up over night – not during operating hours. We’ll freshen things up, get conditions back to as good as they can be and look forward to skiing through the last week.”